The full moon was drawing near, and Jeremy was tormented by the thought that Vick might die from the bite.
So I called Mary and Alex. The two of them seemed really sweet; it looked like the extermination mission I'd sent them on had brought them closer together.
"Lord Nik?" Alex spoke first, stepping forward, while Mary stayed behind him.
"I want the two of you to go find the Donovan girl and kidnap her," I said, showing them a photo of her. "Don't hurt her. She means a lot to Jeremy, but I need a guarantee that she'll turn."
"Yes, sir," Mary nodded at me, and she and Alex left quickly.
They moved fast and kidnapped the girl before a single day had passed. I was playing with my children when their call came through.
I headed to the place and saw the girl tied up, sweating far more than she should have been.
"Well, it looks like she isn't holding on," I said, remembering what I'd seen in Klaus's memories about the bite.
"She isn't going to make it," Mary sighed. "There's too much of the drug in her system. I don't think young master Jeremy will get to keep his girlfriend."
Damn, this isn't good. Honestly, I don't even know why I'm going this far… but I've grown attached to these kids, and they keep my own children company.
"Mary, use magic and make her survive," I sighed. "Even if she turns into some strange new kind of creature."
"But that goes against nature," Mary mumbled, avoiding my eyes, daring to contradict me.
How sweet. I laughed, amused that she had the courage to stand up to my decision. I don't want followers who obey every order and plot behind my back.
But unfortunately for you, Mary, I can't let the natural order take its course — not when my children are involved.
"It doesn't matter. Do it," I replied, then stepped out of the room to give them some space.
It wasn't long before the girl started screaming, and I heard the sound of bones breaking.
When I went back in, I saw Alex holding a human‑sized, human‑shaped female lizard by the neck, pinning it to the bed, while Mary stood there with her wand, chanting a spell.
Well — who would have guessed the girl would become a Kanima? That works.
"Both of you, hold it down. Mary, rewrite its rules," I sighed, looking at the lizard‑like being. "Don't let it form a bond with anyone. Instead of a weapon for revenge, I want a weapon."
"But sir… changing a Kanima's rules is very dangerous," she said, looking worried. "I'm not sure I can do it."
I just smiled at her.
"Don't worry. You're the most talented witch I know. You can do this," I answered, then turned away. "Alex, keep the two of them safe."
A few days later
Elena, Jenna and Jeremy stood in front of the dining table, staring at me. I sighed.
"Jeremy, please step forward," I said, glancing at the door before turning back to Elena and Jenna. "The two of you, don't interfere."
"What do you mean?" Jenna asked, confused. "Nik, what are you up to?"
That was when a human‑shaped female lizard stepped through the door, a chain around its neck, and walked toward Jeremy.
"Oh my god, Jeremy!" Elena tried to run to him, but I stepped in front of her in an instant and held her back.
"Don't get in the way. It's safe," I said, still holding her, and looked at Jenna. "If you interfere, things could spiral out of control."
Just then, Alex appeared in the doorway holding the chain so the lizard couldn't break free. The creature didn't attack him.
It was as if it felt an instinctive fear — that made sense. Kanima venom doesn't affect original vampires very strongly, and Alex is one of the originals. The venom won't hurt him at all. In a fight, a Kanima can be almost as strong as Alex, but nowhere near as fast. Alex had probably beaten Vick a few times in her transformed state so she would see him as someone she must not attack.
"Jeremy, hold out your hand and look straight into its eyes," I said, keeping my gaze on Jeremy while still holding Elena back.
He stared, his mouth falling open.
"Vick?" Jeremy's eyes went wide when he saw the creature's eyes.
"Wait… what?" Elena shouted in shock. "That thing is Vick? That can't be right! Stay away from it, Jeremy! Uncle, let me go!"
Jeremy looked at me, sighed, and held out his hand.
At that moment, the lizard‑like being knelt down in front of him and stretched out its own hand. The bond had been formed.
Meanwhile, far out at sea, aboard a large cargo ship
"We've gone through all the wreckage from the Titanic, sir," a man in a torn diving suit stepped into the cabin. "There were no coffins. Five vampires drowned. If they're lucky, they'll float back up and wake up on some beach. If not, they'll stay trapped on the ocean floor, waking over and over only to drown again."
Elijah Mikaelson set his wine glass down on the table and looked calmly at the man.
"Were they your men?" he asked, his tone steady and elegant.
"Yes, sir. They were good men," the vampire answered, sounding submissive.
"Very well. You have my permission to go look for them and make sure they do not remain stuck at the bottom of the sea," Elijah said, walking toward him. "It seems my brother has tricked me once more. Once you have recovered your men, we will head for another spot out on the ocean."
"Sir… are you really certain those coffins are out there?" the man asked, afraid to meet Elijah's eyes.
"I am," Elijah replied. For the first time, emotion showed in his voice. "Niklaus is a cruel, brutal man who loves nothing and no one. The only thing that brings him pleasure is the pain of others. He threw our siblings into the ocean just to punish me."
Back in Mystic Falls
Jenna was changing the bed sheets, lost in thought. It had been a terrible week — so many surprises, so much suspense, so many frights.
Suddenly, a hand closed around her waist and her chest.
"Nik, not now," Jenna murmured — but she melted when his lips touched her neck.
"But I love you, and I want you now," Nik said in a soft, coaxing voice. He kept kissing her neck and pulling at her clothes.
Jenna finally gave in. Her body went limp, letting Nik undress her, and she shifted on the bed into the right position.
"Tch… I just finished making this bed," she whispered before he made love to her.
Three hours later
They lay side‑by‑side in bed. Jenna was exhausted, sweating, her face a mix of pleasure, weariness, satisfaction and a little pain.
"Love, what if we take all the kids and go on a trip to England?" Nik said with a smile, kissing her lips. She didn't even have the strength to kiss him back.
"Why all of a sudden?" she mumbled, worn out.
"Well… I have a feeling a letter and an owl will be arriving at the house soon," Nik sighed, sounding annoyed. "Unfortunately, it's something I can't ignore — not for the sake of someone who meant a lot to me."
"Wait… a letter, an owl… isn't England where your ex‑partner lived, Harry and Iris's mother?" Jenna said, finding just enough strength to speak. "But Nik, you said you didn't want to go back there."
"I really don't want to," Nik said, staring up at the ceiling and sighing again. "But it was Lilly's wish that the children go to Hogwarts."
"I understand… let's go…"
At last, tiredness overtook her. She was human, after all — she could never keep up with a vampire, let alone one as old as Klaus.
A few days later
It wasn't long before an owl carrying invitation letters for Hogwarts arrived at Klaus's house. It landed right on the table where the family was having breakfast.
"What the hell is that?" Elena asked, staring at the owl. "Iris, send it away! It's getting in the way of our meal!"
It wasn't so strange anymore that the little girl could control animals. Elena had felt relieved after learning magic and all those things were real — she'd started to think she was going crazy watching Iris talk to animals and Harry speak to snakes, with the creatures obeying them.
"I can't," Iris whispered, looking at the owl. "Owl… chase this one away!"
Another, much larger owl flew into the dining room and attacked the first one.
Before a full‑on fight broke out, Klaus grabbed hold of them.
"No fighting, I've told you both before," he said, looking at Iris and Harry.
"But this isn't my fault, Dad!" Harry crossed his arms in defense. "That was Iris's idea. I only control snakes."
"You idiot!" Iris shouted at him.
Klaus looked at her.
"Both of you, stop. Let's see what this is about." He caught the second owl before it could escape and pulled a letter from its claw. "I knew it…"